<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".10" citation="COMAR 10.38.05.10" title_num="10" subtitle_num="38" chapter_num="05" heading="Evidentiary Hearings.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Hearings shall be conducted pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>The Board may delegate its authority to conduct hearings to:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A hearing committee of the Board; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The Office of Administrative Hearings.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Confidentiality.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Hearings are not open to the public.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>All records, including the hearing committee’s decision and the administrative law judge’s recommended decision, are confidential and sealed.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Record. The Board shall prepare an official record of hearings which shall include all:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Pleadings;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Testimony;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Exhibits; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Other memoranda or material filed in the proceeding.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Transcript.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Unless waived by all parties, a stenographic record of the proceedings shall be made at the expense of the Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The stenographic record may not be transcribed, unless requested by a party or by the Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The cost of any typewritten transcripts of any proceedings, or parts of the transcript, shall be paid by the party requesting the transcript.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="F.">
    <text>Presiding Officer.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The presiding officer shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Conduct a full, fair, and impartial hearing;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Take action to avoid unnecessary delay in the disposition of the proceedings;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Maintain order; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Adjourn or recess the hearing from time to time.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The presiding officer has the power to regulate the course of the hearing and the conduct of the parties, including the power to:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Permit the examination of witnesses;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Rule on offers of proof and admit relevant and material evidence;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Consider and rule upon motions;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Grant a continuance or postponement;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Determine the order in which the parties shall present their cases;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(f)">
        <text>Limit unduly repetitious testimony;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(g)">
        <text>Reasonably limit the time for presentation; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(h)">
        <text>Issue orders as necessary to:</text>
        <paragraph num="(i)">
          <text>Secure procedural simplicity and administrative fairness; and</text>
        </paragraph>
        <paragraph num="(ii)">
          <text>Eliminate unjustifiable expense and delay.</text>
        </paragraph>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="G.">
    <text>Examination of Witnesses and Introduction of Evidence.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>The rules of evidence in State Government Article, §10-213, Annotated Code of Maryland, apply to hearings before the Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A party may:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Submit evidence;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Examine and cross-examine witnesses; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>File objections, exceptions, and motions.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If a party is represented by counsel, all submission of evidence, examination and cross-examination of witnesses, and filing of objections, exceptions, and motions shall be done and presented solely by counsel.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>The presiding officer, or a person designated by the presiding officer for that purpose, may examine a witness called by a party.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>The presiding officer may call as a witness a person necessary to ensure a full and complete record.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>Any Board member may examine any witness.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="H.">
    <text>Briefs.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A party may submit a brief on the issues of fact and law involved in the hearing.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The presiding officer may designate:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The form of the brief;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The number of copies to be submitted; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The date and time of submission.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Board may refuse to consider a brief that is not timely filed or fails to conform to requirements imposed by the presiding officer.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="I.">
    <text>If a party who is the respondent in the proceedings fails to appear at a hearing after due notice, the Board may:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Reschedule the hearing; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>In the Board’s discretion, proceed upon the investigation, report, documents, witnesses, and records before it.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="J.">
    <text>Any testimony taken by the Board shall be taken under oath.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="K.">
    <text>Decision and Order.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A decision and order rendered by the Board shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Be in writing; and</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Include the findings of fact and conclusions of law.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>A copy of the decision and order and accompanying findings and conclusions shall be delivered or mailed promptly to each party or the party’s attorney of record.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The findings of fact, conclusions of law, and order shall be retained as a permanent record by the Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="L.">
    <text>Judicial Review.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A party who is aggrieved by a final decision of the Board under Health Occupations Article, §13-316, Annotated Code of Maryland, may seek judicial review of the Board’s decision.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The judicial review shall be in accordance with the provisions of State Government Article, §§10-222 — 10-223, Annotated Code of Maryland.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="M.">
    <text>Rehearings.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Within 10 days after service on a party of the decision of the Board, the party may apply to the Board for rehearing.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The application shall state the grounds for rehearing.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The Board shall grant or deny the application within 20 days of its submission to the Board.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(4)">
      <text>Unless otherwise ordered, neither the rehearing nor the application for rehearing shall:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Stay the enforcement of the order; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Excuse the persons affected by the order for failure to comply with the terms of the order.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(5)">
      <text>At a rehearing, the Board shall only consider facts not presented in the original proceeding, including facts arising after the date of the original proceeding.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(6)">
      <text>By new order, the Board may abrogate, change, or modify its original order.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>